Hatshepsut

Page by: Christopher Ong 6B  Hatshepsut was a pharaoh from the 18th dynasty. Hatshepsut’s name consisted of four parts: Ma’at-ka-Ra Hatshepsut. Ma’at meant truth, order and balance. Ka-Ra meat that she was the spirit double ka of Ra. Hatshepsut means, the foremost of noble women. She was the first female pharaoh and was the daughter of Thutmose I and Aahmes. She had two daughters, Nefure and Senmut. Nefure died during her youth but Senmut didn’t. When her two brothers died, she was left to ascend the throne but as you know, females were not allowed to ascend the throne even though they were of higher status. Women could have owned land, defend their rights and also inherit their family. There were queens before that ruled the land of Egypt but never have there been a female pharaoh. Thutmose II took over the throne and Hatshepsut became his regent. Unfortunately, he died of skin disease but left behind one daughter. Thutmose III should have taken over now but due to his young age, he was held back. Hatshepsut took over and as daughter of a popular pharaoh with charisma and beauty; she managed enough control need to be a pharaoh and in order to secure her position, she emphasized relationship to Thutmose 1 and claimed direct divine lineage.
 * [[image:http://www.bediz.com/hatshep/hatcart.jpg width="170" height="188" caption="http://www.bediz.com/hatshep/hatcart.jpg"]] __Pharaoh Hatshepsut__ **

Hatshepsut connected herself to religion and the gods. Hatshepsut ruled for about 20 years and then mysteriously died in 1458 B.C.E. She left behind more monuments and works of art than any other queen. She continued her father’s unfinished works such as temple but she also had her own monuments. There were two huge obelisks, a pylon and many, many temples. She wore a full regalia of a pharaoh; a shendyt kit, a nemes headdress with an uraeus, a khat head cloth and even a false beard. Hatshepsut had keen political sills, a master politician and an elegant stateswoman. She had many titles, such as Overseer, Controller, Conductor, Chief, Councilor, etc..

Here are some monuments and objects of Hatshepsut here:

2 red obelisks, a sphinx of herself,her temple,, etc.

Although there were no signs of war during her reign, she still held sovereignty by sending expeditions to foreign lands, such as the land of Punt. When the envoys came back, they brought marvelous things such as ivory, animals, spics, gold, ebony, resin, myrrh, frankincense, and aromatic tress.

Hatshepsut had many obstacles, especially when Thutmose III came of age. He seeked total revenge. He was trying every way he could tip Hatshepsut off the throne. After he murdered Hatshepsut, Nefure and Semnut he took over as pharaoh of Egypt. He destroyed Hatshepsut’s and Semnut’s sarcophagus, and their tombs. The only remaining object was an urn which contained Hatshepsut’s liver. Thutmose III ordered the complete erasure of Hatshepsut’s name from anything of her reign. They simply changed her name to Thutmose 1/2/3 for she was already dressed as a male. Not only her names were erased, some monuments were destroyed. There is also a fabulous temple in the Valley of the Kings, on a tall plateau at Deir-el-Bahri across Nile from Thebes.

Hatshepsut's Sarcophagus

Here is Hatshepsut's Family Tree:

Generally, Hatshepsut accomplished during her reign what no other woman had. She ruled the most powerful and advanced civilization in the whole wide world for 20 years. Even if there are some people who resent her success, her marvelous success will stand for all eternity.

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Microsoft Encarta Premium Hatshepsut (Book) Social Studies Textbook